What lies ahead for the university in the coming years? What kind of changes are necessary? Answers to these questions and more can be found in the latest issue of UP Žurnál magazine, which features an in-depth interview with the new rector, Michael Kohajda.
Forty pages dedicated to Palacký University Olomouc – that’s UP Žurnál. The opening article focuses on artificial intelligence and introduces readers to the newly patented Cloakspeech software developed by linguists at the UP Faculty of Arts. Among other things, it can create personalised advertising tailored to a specific customer, craft a political campaign slogan precisely directed at a selected voter, or identify the author of anonymous hate speech posts on social networks.
Other pages are devoted to the phenomenon that Academia Film Olomouc has become. How has AFO changed over the past six decades, and how has the world of science changed, the one that this film festival seeks to make its audiences familiar with? “For quite a long time, until the Velvet Revolution, the festival was seen as more of a professional environment for creators, academics, and filmmakers to meet. A place they could have discussions, exchange experience, and push the genre forward. It was open to the public from the very beginning, but there was no huge interest in it from Olomouc residents,” recalls Jiří Slavík, a long-time AFO programmer.
As always, art and culture receive a lot of attention in the “summer edition” of our UP magazine. This is how you can get to know – unless you’ve been at her concerts already – Kateřina Kouláková a/k/a Kaczi, a musician and Faculty of Physical Culture graduate. Are you interested in how physiotherapy and dance go together? Then don’t miss the story of Hana Němcová, a Faculty of Health Sciences student.
“I would like to treat every faculty the same, to fairly devote equal time and space to each of them. It shouldn’t be the squeaky wheel getting the grease. For me, all faculties are equally important and significant,” says Rector Michael Kohajda, and that’s just for starters. In the interview, he presents his realistic view on the economics of universities, mentions the current geopolitical context, highlights the importance of offering students a good environment for both studies and for relaxation, and points out to the necessity to work with alumni.
That’s not all that the latest issue of UP Žurnál has to offer. In the Portrait section, for example, we introduce special educator Veronika Růžičková from the UP Faculty of Education. Italian postdoc Luca Chiurchiu reflects on Olomouc and the university, and young scientist Veronika Šedajová shares her experiences from the University of Cambridge.
The UP Žurnál is also available in electronic form.
The editorial team wishes you pleasant reading!